English lessons with Chinese support

English for Chinese Speakers · Foundations

Start building your English from the basics

Mike lays out a beginner-friendly way to start learning English: build a useful foundation, form simple sentences, and practise consistently. Follow the key expressions in his explanation, then try using them in context.

English for Chinese Speakers · Student Interviews

Shanghai Students Speak English—and Impress Their Interviewer

Teacher Mike interviews Shanghai middle school students about their English, learning habits, school life, and future plans. Hear natural ways to describe skills, compare strengths, and talk about study and career goals.

English for Chinese Speakers · Eating Out

Restaurant English: Ordering, Paying, and Tipping

Kristin role-plays restaurant and café situations, from ordering and customizing drinks to splitting a bill and understanding North American tipping norms. Practice practical service questions and polite ways to get a server’s attention.

English for Chinese Speakers · TV & Culture

TV Shows for English Practice and American Culture

Leah recommends several American shows for listening practice and cultural context, explaining what makes each one useful—from everyday conversation and humor to history and period detail.

English for Chinese Speakers · Social Life

Talking About Friendship, Loneliness, and Independence

Leah reflects on friendship, loneliness, and learning to enjoy activities independently. The personal story offers natural American English for describing relationships, emotional pressure, and trying something outside your usual routine.

English for Chinese Speakers · Culture & Society

Beauty Standards in the U.S. and China

Leah compares beauty ideals she has observed in the United States and China, while emphasizing that preferences vary among individuals. Treat the comparisons as one speaker’s perspective—not a universal description—and notice the language she uses to qualify opinions and discuss social expectations.

English for Chinese Speakers · Language Learning

How to Learn a Language as an Adult

Leah shares how she learned Chinese and explains practical ways to build a language environment without living where the language is spoken. She recommends learning vocabulary through examples and context, and describes why steady practice matters more than translating isolated words.

C1 · Everyday Life · Money

What It Costs to Live in America for a Month

Leah breaks down her monthly expenses in the United States, from housing and groceries to transportation, subscriptions, and health costs. Learn practical ways to compare costs and talk about a personal budget.

C1 · Language & Culture · Communication

How Language Shapes the Way You Think

Leah reflects on how language and culture influence the way people describe ideas and interpret everyday situations. Hear practical expressions for comparing perspectives without assuming that one language maps neatly onto another.

C1 · Language Learning · Movies

How to Learn English with Movies

Leah recommends films and explains a repeatable way to study short scenes: understand the story, listen with English subtitles, then replay and imitate useful lines. Her advice combines enjoyment with focused listening.

C1 · Education & Culture · Reading

Four Books Many Americans Read in High School

Leah discusses books she encountered in American high school and how assigned reading, class discussion, and school choices can differ. The video is a personal account, not a fixed national reading list.

C1 · Family & Society · Young Adults

Do Americans Really Leave Home at 18?

Leah challenges the stereotype that every American moves out at 18. She describes how college, finances, family support, and personal circumstances influence when young adults live independently.

C1 · Relationships & Society · Family

Why Some American Women Choose to Marry Later

Leah shares her perspective on changing attitudes toward marriage, unequal domestic expectations, and financial independence. Her account is one person’s view, not a description of all American women.

C1 · Travel & Culture · China

A Journey to China: Travel, Food, and First Impressions

Leah documents a trip from the United States to China, sharing travel moments, food, transportation, and cultural observations. The English captions cover her narration; some background interactions may not be fully captioned.

C1 · Family & Society · Relationships

Do American Parents Ask About Marriage?

Leah describes several parenting styles and how families may talk about marriage, independence, and personal boundaries. She emphasizes that families differ and that stereotypes are not reliable rules.

C1 · Education & Culture · College

How College Applications Work in the United States

Leah explains parts of the US college application process, including tests, essays, activities, and choosing a school. Requirements vary by institution, so the video offers a personal overview rather than universal admissions advice.

C1 · Language Learning · Study Skills

How Adults Can Learn a Language Effectively

Leah shares her experience learning Chinese and discusses pronunciation, spaced review, meaningful input, and speaking practice. She argues for an enjoyable, balanced routine rather than relying on memorization alone.

C1 · Everyday Life · Moving & Family

After 12 years of living in China, we moved back to the USA

Teacher Mike shares why his family moved from Shanghai back to the United States, what they miss about China, and how they are navigating a period of change. Learn natural expressions for uncertain plans, settling into a new place, and keeping priorities in view. Content note: Mike also discusses the recent loss of his brother.

English Learning · Books & Reading

Books That Make English Reading Fun

Travel & Culture · China

An American’s Experience Traveling in China

Relationships & Personal Growth

Do Introverts Need to Change?

Relationships & Social Life

Why Is It Hard to Make Friends as an Adult?

Everyday Life · Money & Budgeting

What I Spend in a Week Living in Boston

Personal Growth · Self-Confidence

How Self-Confidence Changed the Way I See Myself

Culture & Communication · Confidence

Are Americans Really That Confident?

Everyday English · Daily Life

A Normal Day in My Life

Travel & Culture · China

48 Hours in Harbin, One of China’s Coldest Cities

Personal Growth · Life Choices

You Are Not Running Out of Time

Everyday Life · Dreams & Change

My Dream of Living in Boston Came True

Leah revisits her first trip to Boston and reflects on how an old wish became part of her life, even though she could not have predicted the path that brought her there.

Travel & Culture · China

A Day Exploring Shaoxing, China

Leah explores Shaoxing through its canals, food, local history, and small streets, describing how an unfamiliar place gradually became memorable.

Travel & Culture · China

My First Impressions of Beijing

Leah shares her first impressions of Beijing, from its parks and scale to the challenges of navigating a busy city and the excitement of exploring it.

Everyday Life · Moving & Goodbyes

My Last Days in Boston

As she prepares to move abroad, Leah revisits favorite places in Boston, balances a long to-do list, and reflects on saying goodbye to a city she loves.

Digital Life · Habits & Attention

What Changed When I Took a Week Off Social Media?

Leah describes a week away from social media and how boredom, attention, and everyday routines felt different when she stopped checking her phone so often.

Relationships & Personal Growth

There’s Nothing Wrong With Being an Introvert

Leah explains that introversion is not the same as disliking people, and shares how enjoying time alone can support independence and a life that feels authentic.

Everyday Life · Wellbeing

Small Things That Help Me Feel Better

Leah shares simple activities that help her relax and feel better, from a favorite shop and piano practice to books, cooking, and a cozy meal out.

Personal Growth · Reflection

A Birthday Reflection on the Past Year

On her birthday, Leah looks back at growing confidence, moving to a new city, and learning to respond to other people’s behavior without letting it define her.

Culture & Everyday Life · Small-Town America

A Slow Day in My Small American Hometown

Leah spends a day in her small Iowa hometown, showing its quiet pace, family routines, and the comfort she has come to find in the surrounding landscape.

English Learning · Books & Reading

Are All Popular Books Worth Reading?

Leah compares popular books she enjoyed with one that did not work for her, explaining how a reader’s taste and expectations shape an honest recommendation.

Travel & Culture · Everyday Life

Celebrating My Birthday in Beijing

Leah spends a relaxed birthday in Beijing, deciding what she wants to do as the day unfolds and sharing small moments from food, shopping, and time with people close to her.

Everyday Life · Mindful Living

How to Romanticize Your Everyday Life

Leah explains how “romanticizing” ordinary life can mean noticing beauty in familiar routines, making small moments meaningful, and paying attention to what is already around you.

Relationships & Personal Growth · Comparison

You’re Not Behind: Everyone Has a Different Timeline

Leah talks about comparing milestones with other people, the pressure to meet a social timeline, and why a slower or different path does not mean you have failed.

Everyday Life · Living in China

A Realistic Day in Leah’s Life in Beijing

Leah shares an ordinary day in Beijing, including breakfast, daily errands, and the small cultural differences she notices while settling into life in China.

Everyday Life · Food & Routines

A Few Chill Days in My Life

Leah shares a few relaxed days filled with brunch, groceries, comforting meals, reading, and quiet routines that help her enjoy ordinary time.

Everyday Life · Money & City Living

What Does a Day in Boston Cost?

Leah tracks what she spends during a day in Boston and explains how transit, food, and occasional treats fit into a budget-conscious routine.

Personal Growth · Goals & Habits

New Year Goals: A Chance to Begin Again

Leah reflects on sleep, travel, and personal goals for the year, while questioning the idea that people need to wait for January to make a change.

Everyday Life · Rest & Routines

A Cozy Day Off in the City

On a rare day off, Leah explores her city, tries a restaurant, picks up a seasonal treat, and reflects on new routines she has grown to enjoy.

Travel & Culture · Harbin

Inside Harbin’s Ice and Snow World

Leah visits Harbin’s seasonal ice-and-snow park, describing its enormous ice slide, night lights, and what it feels like to explore the attraction in winter.

Entertainment · Television & Seasons

Four TV Shows for a Cozy Fall

Leah recommends four shows that match the feeling of fall and explains what makes each one appealing, while sharing language learners can pick up from watching them.

Relationships · Love & Communication

What Does It Mean to Be Loved?

Leah reflects on how people express love, what makes a relationship feel understood, and how contrasting preferences can shape everyday connection.

Books & Culture · Classic Literature

Is Pride and Prejudice Worth Reading?

Leah introduces the central relationship in Pride and Prejudice, explains the social pressures behind the story, and shares why the novel still feels engaging to her.

Everyday Life · Food & Routines

A Realistic Day of Eating in America

Leah shows a realistic day of meals and snacks, describing a frustrating purchase, a favorite homemade dinner, and the small choices in her routine.

Books & Personal Growth · Reading for Pleasure

What’s the Point of Reading?

Leah responds to the worry that readers must remember everything, explaining how enjoyment, curiosity, and getting absorbed in a story can be valuable on their own.

Campus Life · Food & Study

A Day in My Life at Cornell

Leah walks around Cornell on a hot day, visits a dining hall, explains how students pay or use meal plans, and spends time working on campus.

Everyday Life · Free Time & Routines

A Day With No Plans Was Exactly What I Needed

Leah spends an unplanned day walking around, browsing stores, working on a crochet blanket, and enjoying a relaxed meal without rushing from one plan to another.

C1 · English Learning · Vocabulary & Sentence Building

Build Your English with 625 Core Words and Five Sentence Patterns

Mike explains how a core vocabulary and a few sentence patterns can help learners build longer, more useful English sentences. Follow his examples with adverbs, adjectives, and objects, then notice how he recommends practising words over time.

C1 · Travel & Getting Around · Travel English

250 Essential English Sentences for Traveling Abroad

Mike teaches 250 practical English sentences for travel, from asking for directions and booking a room to ordering food, shopping, and handling emergencies. Each example is spoken twice, first slowly and then at a natural pace.

C1 · Social & Small Talk · Conversation Patterns

175 Practical English Sentence Patterns for Everyday Conversation

Practise 175 everyday sentence patterns for making plans, asking for directions, expressing obligations, and suggesting alternatives. Mike models reusable structures that learners can adapt to real conversations.

C1 · Daily Life · Money & Housing

What Does It Cost to Live in America? A Monthly Budget Walkthrough

Mike walks through a household budget in the United States, explaining costs such as housing, utilities, groceries, and transportation. The figures are his family’s examples from the video, not current averages or a universal cost-of-living estimate.

C1 · Social & Small Talk · Natural Conversation

Natural English in the USA: Phrases to Use with the Right Tone

Mike contrasts awkward or overused wording with conversational alternatives, including ways to greet people, apologize, offer help, and make requests. Treat the advice as context-sensitive guidance rather than a universal rule about what Americans say.

C1 · Social & Small Talk · Idioms & Wordplay

Learn English with Eason Chan: Natural Expressions and Wordplay

Mike uses clips featuring singer Eason Chan to discuss English word choice, humor, superlatives, and conversational expressions. The video includes a substantial sponsored course segment, so treat its promotional claims separately from the language examples.

C1 · Food & Dining · Tasting and Conversation

Trying Chinese Shaokao with Friends: Food and Dining English

Mike takes friends to try Chinese Shaokao and shares their reactions while tasting different dishes. Learners can notice how people describe unfamiliar food, compare preferences, give ratings, and keep a friendly conversation going.

C1 · Social & Small Talk · Conversation Openers

Ten English Phrases for Starting a Conversation

Mike models conversation openers and follow-up questions for meeting people, talking about work, and commenting on something around you. The lesson is most useful when learners choose a question that fits the setting and the other person’s comfort.

C1 · Culture & Daily Life · Comparing Habits

Five American Habits My Chinese Wife Finds Unusual

Mike and his wife discuss everyday habits that feel unfamiliar to them across cultures, including household routines and food preferences. Their comments are personal experiences, not rules about all Chinese or American people.

C1 · Daily Life · Moving and Cultural Differences

Moving Back to the USA: Everyday Differences and Useful English

Mike reflects on everyday differences he noticed after moving back to the United States, including tipping, transportation, and digital services. These are his personal observations from a particular time and place, not universal rules about either country.

Kitchen & Food

Kitchen English: Everyday Items and Useful Actions

Join Kristin for a visual tour of a family kitchen. Learn the names of everyday items and hear natural phrases for describing where things are, washing dishes, boiling water, and offering someone a drink.

Cars, Cycling & Safety

Car and Bike-Sharing English: Parts, Safety, and Parking

Learn useful transportation vocabulary with Kristin, from car controls and mirrors to shared-bike rentals, speeding, and parking tickets. Focus on the phrases that describe actions and common roadside situations.

Everyday English · Clothing & Shopping

Clothing English: Shopping, Sizes, and What to Wear

Kristin teaches clothing vocabulary through a mix of store role-play and everyday examples. Follow how to ask to try something on, request another size, talk about sale prices, and describe clothes, hair, and accessories.

Everyday English · Home & Household

Household English: Rooms, Kitchen, and Home Life

Kristin tours a family home and names the rooms, furniture, appliances, kitchen tools, and household routines inside it. Learn how to describe where things belong and talk naturally about home, work, and taking time off.

Everyday English · Food & Ordering

Ordering Food in English: Drive-Thrus and Takeout

A multi-scene listening lesson for ordering at Canadian and American-style drive-thrus. Hear how customers place an order, clarify quantities, customize food, pay, and handle misunderstandings—plus a brief explanation of ketchup versus tomato sauce.

Everyday English · Dining & Social Cues

Funny Restaurant English: Ordering, Paying, and Social Cues

Kristin uses restaurant sketches to teach drink orders, bill-splitting, tipping conversations, and service requests. The humor depends on misunderstandings and tone, so the transcript explains which expressions are useful and which lines are jokes rather than models to copy.

Everyday English · Coffee Shops

Ordering at Starbucks: Sizes, Customizations, and Clarifying

Practise ordering coffee in several Starbucks-style situations: selecting a drink and size, customizing milk or espresso, paying, and asking for clarification when a drive-thru speaker is hard to hear. The lesson also explains branded cup-size names.

Everyday English · Vocabulary in Context

English with Sticky Notes: Home, Clothes, Travel, and Culture

Kristin labels objects around the home and uses them to teach vocabulary, countability, regional differences, travel packing, and holiday terms. The examples show how everyday words change with context rather than relying on isolated memorization.

Travel English · Airports

Airport English: Check-In, Security, and Boarding

Follow Kristin through an airport as she checks flight information, handles carry-on luggage and security screening, requests a window seat, and asks for items on board. The lesson focuses on practical phrases for moving through common airport steps.

School Life & Campus Activities

A Day at an International School in Shanghai

Join Mike for a day at an international school in Shanghai. Hear students describe classes, languages, projects, and activities while learning practical expressions for asking about school life and sharing your own perspective.

English Interview & Everyday Expressions

GEM's English: Natural Phrases, Humor, and Everyday Vocabulary

Teacher Mike uses GEM’s English interviews to explore humor, personality descriptions, everyday vocabulary, connected speech, and a practical grammar correction. A brief Mandarin code-switch is noted, but unclear words are left untranslated.